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Iowa Environmental Focus, a product of the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER), is a non-profit source for Iowa-specific news, analysis, research, and commentary on the environment. It covers a range of topics including air and water quality, climate change, extreme weather, sustainable communities and green energy.

As part of this project, CGRER is partnering with Iowa radio stations to air a weekly radio segment, also called Iowa Environmental Focus.

CGRER, a state-funded institute headquartered at the University of Iowa, is devoted to bettering our environment by promoting interdisciplinary research on the many aspects of global environmental change. It awards seed grants, fosters interdisciplinary courses, provides state-of-the-art research facilities, and holds seminars and symposia.

Iowa Environmental Focus Staff

Joe Bolkcom: Joe is the Outreach and Community Education Director for CGRER and the Iowa Flood Center. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Ambrose University and a master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Iowa. In addition to his responsibilities at CGRER and the Iowa Flood Center, he is serving his fourth term in the Iowa Senate.

Nick Fetty: Nick is an MA student in Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Iowa and media assistant for CGRER. He earned his BA in journalism and sport studies from the University of Iowa in 2012 and has worked for the University of Iowa Athletic Department, the Johnson County Auditor’s Office, and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. The West Des Moies-native enjoys exercising, spending time outdoors, and cheering on the Hawkeyes. Follow Nick on Twitter: @nick_fetty.

KC McGinnis: KC McGinnis is an MA student in Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Iowa and media assistant at CGRER. Before coming to the UI, KC worked as a photo and video journalist, producing multimedia stories for the New York Times, Des Moines Register and various national and regional publications. KC grew up in Glenwood, Iowa, just south of Council Bluffs. Follow KC on Twitter: @McGinnisKC, and on Instagram: @kc.mcginnis.

Maggie St. Clair: Maggie is a junior Environmental Studies major at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. She has spent the past two summers as a media assistant at CGRER while residing in her hometown, Mount Vernon. She is also a member of Knox’s women’s tennis team and an ambassador for the admissions department.

Jerry Schnoor: Jerry is the co-director and co-founder of CGRER. He holds degrees from Iowa State University (B.S. ’72) and the University of Texas-Austin (M.S. ’74; Ph.D. ’75). He joined the University of Iowa faculty in 1977 and currently holds the Allen S. Henry Chair in Engineering. He teaches civil and environmental engineering as well as occupational and environmental health. His specific fields of knowledge include water quality modeling, aquatic chemistry, and climate change. Jerry also voices the weekly Iowa Environmental Focus radio segments.